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A20 SPORTS
Monday 22 october 2018
Chargers withstand Titans' late rally, hold on for 20-19 win

By ZAC BOYER touchdown when Der-
Associated Press rick Henry ran 1 yard into
LONDON (AP) — The Los the end zone with 9:43 left
Angeles Chargers' Adrian in the third quarter to pull
Phillips believes the Tennes- within 17-13.
see Titans made the right Michael Badgley made his
decision to go for a po- second of two field goals,
tential go-ahead 2-pointer Succop missed from 51
with 31 seconds remaining yards and after holding
— and not just because it Los Angeles, the Titans pre-
failed. pared their final charge.
Phillips broke up Marcus Dion Lewis ran for 91 yards
Mariota's pass attempt, the on 13 carries, including a
Titans' second after a de- 36-yard gain on the final
fensive penalty on the first drive that moved Tennes-
attempt, and the Chargers see into the Chargers' terri-
held on for a 20-19 victory tory, and Tajae Sharpe had
on Sunday at Wembley seven catches for a career-
Stadium. high 101 yards.
It was the fourth consecu- TEMPERS FLARE
tive victory for the Chargers Rivers and wide receiver
(5-2), who weathered the Keenan Allen were shout-
absence of running back Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8), center, goes over for a touchdown which was ing at each other and had
later disallowed during the second half of an NFL football game against Los Angeles Chargers at
Melvin Gordon to a ham- Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018. to be held apart after an
string injury and relied upon Associated Press incompletion to Mike Wil-
their defense to pull out the liams in the end zone on
win. "It was a great deci- third-down running backs Mariota, who went 24 for After Stocker scored, Mario- third-and-7 early in the
sion," Phillips said. "That's the in the game — and a re- 32 for 237 yards with an in- ta's first attempt was a pass fourth quarter.
game right there. If I'm the ceiver corps that had been terception, thought he had intended for Tajae Sharp, Allen, who had beaten Ti-
head coach, I go for it, too. doing good all game — so scored the touchdown an incompletion negated tans cornerback Logan
You have the momentum. why not?" himself. by a defensive holding call Ryan on the play and was
You just (went) 70 yards. The Titans (3-4) drove 89 With 40 seconds left, he on the Chargers' Casey wide open, kicked a pylon
You've got one of the big- yards over the final 4:55 be- ran 3 yards on a draw and Hayward, and his second, in frustration before target-
gest running backs in the fore Mariota's 1-yard pass stretched for the end zone, toward Taywan Taylor, was ing Rivers.
game, one of the best run- to tight end Luke Stocker but replay showed that he tipped by Phillips. "He ran a route so good
ning quarterbacks in the pulled them within one was down inches shy of the "I loved the call," Mariota that he felt like he needed
game and one of the best point. goal line. said. "I love that he has the ball — and he should,"
confidence in us to go Rivers said. "That's fine. At
make that. We just didn't the same time, the cover-
execute." age was going his way, so
Gordon entered the game I went somewhere else. It's
third in the NFL in rush- a passionate, emotional
ing with 466 yards and game. That won't be the
had scored a total of nine last argument that any of
touchdowns this season, us have on the sideline and
but was ruled out after I won't worry about it after 2
an unsuccessful pregame seconds."
workout. A BAD DECISION
Austin Ekeler, in his second Inside linebacker Denzel
season, earned his first start Perryman handed Mariota
in Gordon's place and ran the first red zone intercep-
for 42 yards on 12 carries, tion of his career at the
but it was quarterback Phil- Chargers 4-yard line with 30
ip Rivers who shouldered seconds left in the first half.
the burden for the Char- "That was a big mistake,"
gers. Mariota said. "I should have
Rivers, who completed 19 moved onto my second
of 26 passes for 306 yards, read and maybe we would
threw two touchdown have had a shot."
passes — one that went 75 NATIONAL ANTHEM
yards to Tyrell Williams on Los Angeles left tackle Rus-
Los Angeles' first play from sell Okung had his right fist
scrimmage, and one that raised during the anthem,
traveled 55 yards to Mike but put it down before
Williams to cap the first the start of "God Save The
drive of the second half. Queen."
The Titans trailed 10-6 at INJURIES
halftime after two field Tennessee: Right guard
goals by Ryan Succop. Josh Kline was injured with
After Mike Williams scored, 43 seconds remaining, was
the Titans ended their replaced by Corey Levin
10-quarter skid without a and did not return.q